Universal wrap for securing a thermal pack

Abstract

A system and method for providing a universal wrap that can apply a thermal pack to many different regions of a patient's body. The universal wrap is provided in a standardized form. The medical provider is provided with options to modify the standardized form in order to adapt the wrap to many different applications.

Having described my invention, I claim: 
     
       1. A method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient, comprising:
 (a) providing a universal wrap, including,
 (i) a body, having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, 
 (ii) said body including an inner surface covered in hook-compatible material, 
 (iii) a strap connected to said first lateral edge of said body, with said strap having an outer surface, 
 (iv) a tab connected to said second lateral edge of said body, said tab including a hook surface and a back surface, with said tab being folded over said inner surface with said hook surface on said tab engaging said hook-compatible material on said inner surface of said body, 
 (v) a hook panel; 
 
 (b) providing a thermal pack, including,
 (i) an outer layer, 
 (ii) an inner layer, 
 (iii) an interior volume containing thermal media, 
 (iv) a hook panel on said outer layer; 
 
 (c) cutting said strap to form a first segment and a second segment; 
 (d) peeling said hook surface of said tab off of said inner surface of said body to expose said hook surface of said tab; 
 (e) pressing said outer surface of said second segment against said hook surface of said tab to connect said second segment to said tab, said second segment then having a proximal end connected to said tab and a distal end that is free; 
 (f) said first segment having a proximal end that is connected to said first lateral edge of said body and a distal end that is free; 
 (g) affixing said thermal pack to said body by pressing said hook panel on said outer layer of said thermal pack against said inner surface of said body; 
 (h) positioning said thermal pack over said lumbar region of said patient with said thermal pack lying between said lumbar region of said patient and said body; 
 (i) passing said first and second segments around a waist of said patient; and 
 (j) using said hook panel to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
 
     
     
       2. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said thermal media of said thermal pack comprises:
 (a) discrete hydrophilic absorber granules; and 
 (b) a solution of water and a humectant. 
 
     
     
       3. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 (a) said humectant is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerin, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, and combinations thereof; and 
 (b) said discrete hydrophilic absorber granules are comprised of acrylic polymer. 
 
     
     
       4. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 3 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
     
     
       5. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said thermal media further comprises a plurality of sub-bags filled with water. 
     
     
       6. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 5 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
     
     
       7. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 2 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
     
     
       8. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said body of said universal wrap is made of soft fabric. 
     
     
       9. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 8 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
     
     
       10. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 1 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
     
     
       11. A method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient, comprising:
 (a) providing a universal wrap, including,
 (i) a body, having a first side and a second side, 
 (ii) said body including an inner surface covered in hook-compatible material, 
 (iii) a strap connected to said first side of said body, with said strap having an outer surface, 
 (iv) a tab connected to said second side of said body, said tab including a hook surface, 
 (v) a hook panel; 
 
 (b) providing a thermal pack, including,
 (i) an outer layer, 
 (ii) an inner layer, 
 (iii) an interior volume containing thermal media, 
 (iv) a hook panel on said outer layer; 
 
 (c) cutting said strap to form a first segment and a second segment; 
 (d) pressing said outer surface of said second segment against said hook surface of said tab to connect said second segment to said tab, said second segment then having a proximal end connected to said tab and a distal end that is free; 
 (e) said first segment having a proximal end that is connected to said first lateral edge of said body and a distal end that is free; 
 (f) affixing said thermal pack to said body by pressing said hook panel on said outer layer of said thermal pack against said inner surface of said body; 
 (g) positioning said thermal pack over said lumbar region of said patient with said thermal pack lying between said lumbar region of said patient and said body; 
 (h) passing said first and second segments around a waist of said patient; and 
 (i) using said hook panel to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
 
     
     
       12. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said thermal media of said thermal pack comprises:
 (a) discrete hydrophilic absorber granules; and 
 (b) a solution of water and a humectant. 
 
     
     
       13. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 12 , wherein:
 (a) said humectant is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerin, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, and combinations thereof; and 
 (b) said discrete hydrophilic absorber granules are comprised of acrylic polymer. 
 
     
     
       14. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 13 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
     
     
       15. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said thermal media further comprises a plurality of sub-bags filled with water. 
     
     
       16. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 15 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
     
     
       17. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 12 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
     
     
       18. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said body of said universal wrap is made of soft fabric. 
     
     
       19. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 18 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment. 
     
     
       20. The method for applying a thermal pack to a lumbar region of a patient as recited in  claim 11 , comprising adjusting a length of one of said first segment and said second segment so that said hook panel lies proximate said patient's anterior abdomen when said hook panel is used to connect said distal end of said first segment to said distal end of said second segment.